The Chairman's Mark as amended is available here. The reimbursement equity provision that was ACNM's top legislative priority is on page 189 of 262. Next step: Chairman Baucus has requested cost estimates of the package by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation. The Committee will vote on the legislation following its receipt of those analyses. Learn more about what's in the legislation for women and their families here.

Patient-Centered Primary Care is a model of care that emphasizes readily accessible, comprehensive, coordinated care for the patient, and provides compensation for the health care provider. There is great interest in this model and the improved quality, safety, and outcomes that can be provided at a significant cost savings

This letter from the Patient Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA), a coalition of non-MD provider organizations including ACNM, calls upon the new Obama Administration to support legislation to prevent health plans from discriminating against classes of health care providers.

~Health Care Reform Consensus Statement from the Nursing CommunityThis consensus document makes multiple recommendations to Congress and the Administration in relation to health care reform that involve all of nursing, including advanced practice nursing. ACNM appreciated the leadership of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in bringing the community together on this consensus statement. More than 30 nursing organizations have signed on to this consensus document. It highlights the importance of having nurse-midwives be designated as primary care providers; addressing the inequitable reimbursement rate under Medicare for nurse-midwives; the need to ensure nurse-midwives are recognized for their role in teaching medical students, residents, and student midwives in teaching facilities among a range of recommendations relating to advanced practice nurses.

This paper, published by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) in November 2008, provided an early preview of the chairman's perspectives on health reform just weeks after the presidential election.